FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 14, 2013

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713/Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

OCTA Seeks Input Planning For Transportation Future

Public can participate in online survey to express opinions on county’s mobility needs

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is seeking public input to help plan for the county’s transportation needs for the next 20 years and beyond.

Community members are encouraged to participate in an online survey at www.octa.net/lrtp through Dec. 15.

The survey asks for public input on what Orange County’s transportation priorities should be through 2035, to help residents, workers and visitors move efficiently throughout the county.

Every four years, the OCTA completes a Long Range Transportation Plan that examines the county’s expected transit needs, accounting for changes in demographics, the economy and available transportation funding.

It also explores potential trends in transit needs as the population changes and looks at a multi-modal transportation system, including buses, trains, freeways, city streets, bikeways and more.

The survey asks questions such as “On a scale of 1 to 5, how satisfied are you with Orange County’s transportation system?” It also gives survey-takers the chance to prioritize transportation needs from low to high on topics such as increasing the frequency/amount of bus service, widening existing freeways, adding elevated lanes to existing freeways and synchronizing traffic signals, among many other issues.

The plan will address key issues such as the fact that transportation demands are outpacing capacity, that existing infrastructure needs improvements and that funding is unpredictable.

The Measure M program, the county’s half-cent sales tax for transportation, is the centerpiece of long-range planning. The Long Range Transportation Plan includes Measure M projects and looks beyond at additional needs throughout the county.

Results of the online survey will help shape the Long Range Transportation Plan, which is the basis of OCTA’s input for the Regional Transportation Plan prepared by the Southern California Association of Governments.

OCTA’s outreach efforts culminate with a public review period in April and May 2014. The Long Range Transportation Plan will be submitted to SCAG in August 2014.

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